Venetian blind



Feb. 11, 1941. HEFWORTH 2,231,447

VENETIAN BLIND Filed Nov. 15, 1939 INVENT OR ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 11, 1941 2,231,447

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE a VENETIAN BLIND Bert H. Hepworth, Phoenix, Ariz.

Application November 13,1939, Serial No. 304,181

4Claims. (o1. 156--l7) This application relates generally to Venetian edge 5. The width of the fiat area. as indicated blinds composed of slats made of metal or comby numeral 6, is variable and is governed by the position suspended and controlled by metal linkstifiness of the material and generally by the size age. of the entire blind, while the radius 1 of the curved 5 The invention has for its objects: bends is suflicient, considering the width of the First, to provide a Venetian blind composed of flat portion and the nature and thickness of the slats, as abovedescribed with intermediateend slat material to give the required longitudinal linkage so that the weight of the blind is not stifiness to the slats. entirely supported at the ends; To form a blind, a desired number of these slats Second, to provide a Venetian blind, as above -2 (Figure 1) are suspended at each end by linkage 10 described, provided with intermediate linkage; 8, Clips 9, moulded of pot metal, or the like, are said linkage being attached to the blind slats and slipped onto each end of each slat. These are constructed sothat it will permit all movements, provided with a straight slot to receive the slat heretofore desired ofVenetian blind slats, such and are sized to extend only the width of the as variation of an angle and variation of spacing, flat central portion. Centering and lateral posi- I5 said linkage being adapted to be made entirely of tioning is provided by a B notch cut in the ends metal; and i i of the slats. Links ID are made of metal stamp- A third object is to provide. an intermediate ings, stops being provided to prevent dead centerlinkage that may -be readily attached to metallic ing, and shouldered rivets ll constitute bearings or composition Venetian blind slats that will act and pintles. as a suspension when the blinds are fully ex- However, to attain the maximum benefit of this tended independently of the end supporting and type of slat construction, particularly in a long turning devices. span in conjunction with windows having a wi de I attain the foregoing objects by means of the opening, I have found that end linkage, while it is devices and construction illustrated in the accomsufficient for all'ordinary purposes to lift and 5 panying drawing, in which regulate the spacing between slats, and to turn Figure 1 is an elevational view of several slats them to adjust their angle relative to the window of a portion of Venetian blind including my imopening, is nevertheless not sufificient to prevent provements; a portion of one end linkage being a slight central sag where there are long spans,

shown together with the intermediately positioned and wide openings to be covered by the blind. 30

linkage; In order to make it unnecessary to use slats of Figure 2 is a plan view of the same; greater thickness of material, I provide a me- Figure 3 is a section of one of the slats taken chanical support intermediate the end linkage. substantially on line 3-3, Figure 2, and drawn on This intermediate support consists of a system 5 an enlarged scale; of linkage composed entirely of metal and con- Figure 4 is an end view of one of the intermedisisting of pairs of links 20 joined by bearings, the ate links shown in closed position and drawn on pintles of which form a means of attachment to a somewhat enlarged scale; the body of each slat at any intermediate position Figure 5 is a similar view of one of said links in desired. fully extended position; These links are composed of an upper part l3, 2. 40

Figure 6 is a perspective view, of the detachable lower p jo d together y a hinge joint hinge coupling of one of said intermediate links and held by a pintle IS, in the manner of an showing the opening stops; ordinary hinge. These pintles are made of steel Figure '7,'an elevational end view thereof; wire and have a downward bend at each end Figure 8 is a front elevational view of the hinge beyond the bearing portion. These downward 45 joint of a pair of intermediate links showing a bends I! extend through holes l2 on each side of fragment of a slat in section and means for ata rectangular opening l8, cut in each of the slats tachment of the hinge to the slat. 2. Just beyond this downward bend, this wire is Similar numerals refer to similar parts in all again bent outwardly to form a lock l9 to hold of the views. the pintle in place. The axis of each pintle is 50 The slats 2 are moulded, formed, drawn, or aligned with the axes of the supporting clips of otherwise shaped of comparatively thin material. each slat. As shown in Figure 3, the slat is .formed with a The lower link M of each of these pairs of links flat central portion 3, a downwardly curved right terminates in a portion of a hinge joint, having 65 hand edge 4, and an upwardly curved left hand the bearings 2| closed around a pintle 22. The' central portion between each end bearing is left open to receive the upper end 24 of the next lowermost pair of links. This joint portion consists of a three-quarters closed bearing 25, opened sufficiently so that it may be hooked upon the central portion of pintle 22. On either side of this bearing are two fingers 26 forming spring stops adapted to engage that part of the adjoining link 14 just above the bearing 2|. These stops prevent the links from opening beyond dead center, as shown particularly in Figure 5. It is not intended that there be a dead or fixed stop, but as shown in this figure, when fully extended the link bearings may be substantially aligned, but the resilience of these fingers forces the joint ofi dead center as soon as'the weight of the slat is lessened,

aswhen the blind is drawn up. Each link is somewhat arched to conform comparatively to that portion of the section of the slat to which it may be adjacent when in folded position.

. When in folded position the lower half of'one set of links and the upper half of the next succeeding set may be folded as shown in Figure 4. In this position, the semi-closed bearing 25 may be unhooked from pintle 22, as will be understood by reference to Figure 7. When fully extended, as shown in Figure 5, the links constitute a definite support for such mid portions of slats 2 as those upon which they may be afilxed.

These intermediate links 20 are thus joined to form a continuous chain or linkage between the slats 2. The holes 28, cut in each slat, are sized to permit free turning of the link ends without binding or restriction. When the slats are turned .to form a closure, the link, themselves, close these openings in the slats.

when installed, movement of the slats is in no way restricted. Since the pintles l6 of the link hinges are aligned with the axes of the end supports, all desired turning movement of the slats is permitted. When the slats are in intermediate,

angular and drawn positions, these links do not afford vertical support, but, in such positions none is needed. When, however, the slats are turned to a position approximating the horizontal and the blind is in extended or open position, they afford all the support needed to keep long slats from sagging. Obviously, where extremely long slats are used, any number of chains of these intermediate links may be installed.

Having now fully described my invention and explained its uses, I realize that to those familiar with the art, several alternative structures and modifications may readily suggest themselves. All of these, however, might well remain within the spirit of the invention and, therefore, I wish to be limited only by the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a Venetian blind, intermediate supporting linkage comprising pairs of links set into openings in each of the blind slats supported on pintles axially aligned with the longitudinal turning axis of each blind slat, said links having detachable hook joints for connecting the lower link of one pair with the upper link of the pair next below it to form a continuous linkage extending from the topmost supporting bar to the lowermost slat.

2. In a Venetian blind, having a plurality of slats intermediate supporting linkage composed of pairs of links, hingedly supported within openings in said slats on pintles aligned with the longitudinal turning axis of each of said slats, said links being provided with detachable hinge joints at their outer ends to connect with similar pairs of links similarly positioned in adjacent slats.

3. In a Venetian blind, having a plurality of slats intermediate supporting linkage composed of pairs of links, hingedly supported within openings in said slats on pintles aligned with the longitudinal turning axis of each of said slats, said links being provided with detachable hinge joints at their outer ends to connect with similar pairs of links similarly positioned in adjacent slats, and resilient fingers on one of said links cooperative with said detachable hinge joint forming a resilient stop to prevent said joint opening beyond a predetermined degree.

4. In a Venetian blind, an intermediate sup-- porting link chain composed of hinged links, one hinged joint being aligned with the turning axis of the blind slat and mounted thereon, the other joint opening between the adjacent blinds.

BERT H. HEIQWORTH. 

